As part of an expanded budget from the state to provide “preventative services,” the Madison County Health Department is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to more directly address the role of food in poor health. IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports.

As part of Indiana’s Health First initiatives, the Health Department in Madison County has already seen some early success with services directed at lowering infant mortality rates and teen pregnancy. According to health department officials, Madison County is a birth control desert, making it nearly impossible for many individuals to safely access contraceptives.

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Outreach coordinator Tiffany Denton says she believes a partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank will further help prevent core illnesses. 

“So it becomes less strange to think about when you think about food as medicine. So when you think about the fact that having food that is not necessarily nutritious directly relates to issues like any type of chronic disease,” she said.

The health department says proper nutrition plays a massive role in both physical and mental health.  Eating healthier could be the biggest and most effective way to prevent illness on both fronts. Denton adds that healthy eating isn’t about changing a persons diet overnight, but rather finding healthier alternatives overtime. 

Read More: Food banks see same food shortages, inflation, and gas prices that clients see

The Health First initiative – which significantly increased the state appropriation for most county health departments in Indiana –  has also allowed the health department to hire two new employees to help with the new programs. Department administrator Stephanie Mellinger says their pay comes completely from the fund.

“We created new positions, two new positions, assuming they’re going to get approved by county council in a couple of weeks that they will be completely dedicated to this programming,” said Mellinger. “Two of them will cover the county. We’ll start with those two and see where it goes.”

READ MORE: How the public health system overhaul came to be – and what’s still left to do

If the partnership with Second Harvest is successful, the health department plans on hosting multiple cooking classes and giveaways for things like air fryers and crockpots.

Mellinger says that they want people to come to the health department for the giveaways and classes but stay for the healthcare that the department offers.

There is no planned cost for any of these services.  health department officials say they are trying to keep them as accessible as possible.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu.